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Pulled Apart By Horses // Until My Head Exploded: Greatest Hits // V.E.N.O.M (Video)

You have a tendency to perk up your ears when such a reputed indie label as Rough Trade describes a band as follows, “The band’s (Pulled Apart By Horses) self-titled 2010 debut was a sonic maelstrom of screamo and hard disco riffage; here was heavy music that you could shake a tail feather to, pop music at its most corrupted. Dance music played by wiry punk weirdo’s.” Such an introduction surely got my attention. So, get in touch with your inner ruffian and see if you can blow your speakers out playing PABH cranked up to 11. To get you up to speed, as a primer check out their 2011 release Until My Head Exploded: Greatest Hits. I gather you need no explanation on what you do with this one, but don’t be surprised if the neighbors call in 5-0. And that’s not all, I also have the band’s latest video for the raucous mosh pit ready single “V.E.N.O.M.” I warned you! Peace. Continue reading “Pulled Apart By Horses // Until My Head Exploded: Greatest Hits // V.E.N.O.M (Video)”

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Clap Your Hands Say Yeah – Hysterical

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

Spending time with the new LP from Clap Your Hands Say Yeah is like spending time with someone comfortable and familiar. Listening to their album Hysterical is a journey, from the hyper-sugar high that is “Maniac”, to the more sedate and soulful fare of “Misspent Youth”.  Regardless, this is a very tactile album, definitely something you can sink you ears into for many moons to come. No waiting for this one because its already out. Peace.


Maniac from CYHSY on Vimeo.



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Bon Iver – Beth/Rest Solo Piano Version

Bon Iver - Beth/Rest (Solo Piano Version)

Under normal circumstances I’m not one for surprises. However, like with most things in life there are those rare exceptions. Justin Vernor of Bon Iver is without a doubt an incredibly talented craftsman. What he does with chords and lyrics is nothing less than stellar. So, can his song craft get any better? Apparently so. Just when I thought he couldn’t take it to another level Mr. Vernon pulls a rabbit out of his hat. On his latest album Bon Iver, Bon Iver  the album closes with the song “Beth/Rest”. Now, even if you think the song is a bit grandiose it’s still a great song. Now, the surprise. Justin Vernon has taken this song and stripped it down to its bare bones, and what is left is pretty damn good, and that’s an understatement. Some people categorize Beth/Rest as a love song. Yes, it is a love song albeit a broken or a strained love song, and something wholly different too. It is almost a gospel musing with its naked spirituality, replete with declarations of something akin to a soulful throwing down of the gauntlet and taking a stance and confronting a thing head-on.

When Justin sings:

all the news at the door
such a revelry
well, it’s hocked inside
of everything you said to me

it was found what we orphaned
didn’t mention it would serve us picked
well your love is known
I’m standing up on it

aren’t we married?!
I ain’t living in the dark no more
it’s not a promise,
I’m just gonna call it…

This is the punch in the gut, it is a wake-up call. Whatever happened has come to the light of day. They either suffer and wrestle through it, or call it quits.

The song is now raw and intense and I can’t stop listening to it. Peace.


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Everything Everything – MY KZ, UR BF

Everything Everything is one of those rare anomalies of a band, in that they have the uncanny ability to be several different bands rolled up into one, listen to their 2010 album Man Alive and you’ll understand just what I mean. In the song “MY KZ, UR BF” the listener is taken on a journey and for reasons justified they often don’t fancy returning to terra firma. Frontman Jonathan Higgs is definitely stealing the show with his forthright vocals, sounding like Chris Martin of Coldplay but way cooler and with much more swagger. I also love the blatant R&B rhythms melding ever so gently with the svelte electric-Pop-ish sound. It works, and that is all that matters. I also included a live version of the deadly sexy song “Schoolin'”, like me you will own this track come daylight, yeah its bad, MJ bad.  I posted the song “NASA Is On Your Side” just so you can feel it’s icy hand reach inside your chest and grab a fistful of your heart.



Everything Everything ‘My Kz, Ur BF from Blink on Vimeo.



EVERYTHING EVERYTHING – Schoolin’ from Tuckshop
Community on Vimeo.